Private Sins (Three Rivers Series: Book 1) (3 page)

“I am sorry,” Erica said coughing, “Tofu makes me do things.”

Kelly grinned. “You should choke. I would stay over here and giggle.”

Erica wiped her eyes on a napkin and cleared her throat. “So when did you guys do the horizontal? You were going to tell me before you went to the bathroom.”

“I am not sure I want to tell you anymore,” Kelly said, looking at her suspiciously. “Suppose you go to Mom, and in one of your frequent heart-to-hearts start discussing my business? In case it has escaped your notice, my mother is the choir director at church and she cannot keep a secret if it killed her.”

“I have not had a heart-to-heart with mother since last year July, when I broke up with Jay Jay,” Erica protested.

“So I guess you are due a heart-to-heart with her now then,” Kelly said, “and the topic might just be Kelly.”

“Nah,” Erica said noncommittally, “I wouldn’t. Might as well you just give me the gory details before I imagine them.”

Kelly sighed. “After two months of going to and from the property, he was waiting for me in his office. He wanted to ask me about some fancy lighting that I had ordered—wanted to know if it was energy-efficient. I said yes. One thing led to another and we ended up on his desk. It was intense.”

Erica smacked her lips. “You didn’t even make it to a bed.”

“I am not telling you anymore, you dirty imaginer.”

“So my question is,” Erica asked, as she polished off her sandwich, “who is better: him or Theo?”

Kelly glowered at her.

“Okay, okay.” Erica held up her hands when she saw Kelly's expression. “Here's a tame question: Do you love him?”

“Love who?”

“Chris Donahue.” Erica got up and rummaged through the pantry for something sweet.

“Top-shelf,” Kelly said dispiritedly. “I am weaning the kids off too many sweet things.”

“Ah, Oreos.” Erica grabbed a pack and turned around to her sister triumphantly. “I am going on a diet next week, I swear.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Kelly said. “I've heard it all before.”

“So do you?” Erica asked again.

“I don’t know.” Kelly replied absently. “I don’t know anything. Right now I just want everything to go back to the way it was.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Theo was reluctant to leave Kelly the Thursday evening of August 5. She was not looking too good, but he had scheduled a long overdue meeting with his elders. They were complaining that Chris Donahue was not doing his duties as first elder and they wanted to hash it out with him.

Theo had realized that Chris was not attending church as he used to, and he had been meaning to talk to him. But Chris had managed to avoid him for the last few months on one pretext or another until Theo had all but given up. This meeting was long overdue, and he was eager to hear what was happening with his first elder.

For the past four years Chris had been his right-hand man—very reliable when it came to church work and very popular with the young people. They preferred to go to Chris with their issues than him. Theo did not mind that as much, and he had gone out of his way to encourage Chris' involvement with the youth arm of the church.

At the back of his mind he wished Chris would find a wife from the pick of young adoring women that followed him around, but every time he tried to talk to Chris about anything remotely personal he would shut down. He was super-private about his personal life, and knowing their mutual past with Kelly, Theo usually backed off.

“Hon,” he said, looking at Kelly again. She was lying on the settee, a grimace on her face. “I can call off the meeting.”

“No,” Kelly whispered, rubbing her belly. “It’s just a little cramp here and there. I will survive.”

“Then I am asking Erica to come and stay with you till I get back,” Theo said, heading for the phone. “She's a nurse. She's the perfect company for you right now.”

“Okay,” Kelly whispered, looking at him out of the slit of one eye and rubbing her belly.

“My car is still at the garage, so I am getting a lift with Elder Gregory. Take care of yourself and our baby.” He kissed Kelly on her forehead and then on her belly.

“Stop giving your mommy trouble,” Theo whispered to her belly.

Kelly smiled. “I love you. Why don’t you take my car?”

“No can do,” Theo said sternly. “If something happens to you, you might need to drive out of here.”

“I love you,” Kelly whispered. “You are the most caring, concerned man.”

“I love you more.” Theo stood up, “I hear Elder Greg at the gate. I'll try to hurry this meeting along, okay?”

Kelly grunted and closed her eyes. Theo left the house reluctantly, his mind not completely on the meeting. Kelly had looked sick, and despite her protests that she was fine, he was not so sure.

He entered the pastor's vestry, a cloud hanging over his head. Everyone was gathered around the table drinking what smelled like peppermint tea.

“Sister Vinney made it,” Elder Giscombe said, referring to the church secretary. She usually stuck around for choir practice on a Tuesday. He pointed to the teapot. “It is refreshing. Have some.”

“Thank you. Later I will,” Theo said, nodding at the men and two women. They formed the nucleus of the church leadership, and they were very serious about their jobs. He often felt very grateful to this group of people. They were really the ones who ran the church like a well-oiled machine. At times he had a flare up or two within the ranks, but he had never had a meeting to discuss the fate of the first elder.

Chris was sitting in a corner looking sullen. He was aware that the meeting was about him and he was obviously feeling apprehensive about the whole thing. Since he was voted first elder several years ago he had never had any complaint about his leadership.

Every year they elected him to be the head of the group of elders without fail, even the older elders were content to have him serve. They were all confused about what they thought was his defection and lack of communication with them over the past year and a half.

Theo was also confused about Chris' behavior. They were not particularly close, but Chris was usually on top of things and very spiritual. For the last few months he detected a detachment in Chris that he was very concerned about.

“Okay, gentlemen and ladies,” Theo began, “as usual let us begin this meeting with prayer. Elder Gregory, can you pray to start?”

Elder Gregory nodded, his white moustache twitching. He then prayed a long-winded prayer and they all gratefully said Amen when he finished.

The room was silent. Everyone stared at Theo, waiting eagerly for him to start. They were all trying not to look at Chris, who had his arm folded at the very end of the table, a small smile on his face.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is unprecedented. In all my years of experience I've never been called to mediate in a matter concerning the eldership of the church. Usually this would be your job, Chris. If this wasn’t about you that is.”

Polite laughter followed that statement, and when the last snicker died down silence reigned again.

“So what is really the issue here,” Theo asked, looking from one elder to the other.

“Well, let me begin,” Elder Lucilda said, clearing her throat. “Elder Chris is tardy in assigning church tasks. The church leaders used to meet to pray on Sundays, now that is a thing of the past.”

Theo nodded, looking briefly at Chris, who was staring fixatedly at the table.

“I think the problem here is that Elder Chris is in need of a woman,” Elder Gregory said in his blustery voice. “I recommend Sister Phoebe as a prospective mate.”

Chris looked up with an expression of pain on his face. He had not said a word since he entered the room. Guilt—his constant companion—had effectively made him quiet.

“There is someone,” his voice petered off, ten pairs of eyes looked at him with avid interest. His eyes skittered away at the joy he saw in Theo's. “I think I should give up the eldership for the rest of year. Maybe for a long time.”

“So who is it?” Sister Sheila asked, looking at him over her glasses. “Is it Sister Phoebe?”

Chris cleared his throat. “It is complicated.” He sat up straighter, looked at Theo and then looked away. “Extremely complicated.”

Elder Gregory frowned. “Giving up the eldership should not be that simple. Have you been engaging in sexual immortality? Is that why?”

The silence in the room was deafening.

“Sorry to interrupt, Pastor,” Vinney said, poking her head through the door, “but Sister Erica just called.”

Theo swung around. “What is it?”

“Apparently you are a proud papa again. Sister Kelly is in the hospital.”

Theo got up excitedly. “But that’s early,” he said, his smile disappearing as soon as it came. “She’s just seven months along. Is something wrong?”

“No, sir.” Vinney smiled even wider. “Sometimes babies can't wait to enter the world.”

“Sorry, elders.” Theo grabbed up his jacket. “I have to go.”

“I'll take you,” Chris piped up quickly, standing as swiftly as Theo, “since you don't have a car.”

“Oh, right,” Theo said. “I had forgotten about that. Thank you, Chris. This meeting is adjourned till next week. We'll consider Chris' recommendation to step down more closely at that time.”

Everyone nodded, slapping Theo on the back as he headed to Chris' car.

CHAPTER FIVE

Chris looked grim and not in the mood for conversation. Theo was silently wondering what was eating him these days. Was the problem really sexual immorality as elder Gregory had suggested? Whatever it was, it had made Chris become withdrawn and unapproachable.

The fifteen-minute drive to the hospital would pass in absolute silence, if Chris had his way, Theo realized. He pondered for a minute or two if he should bother him. His curiosity won out and he turned to Chris, modulating his voice to soothing tones.

“What's eating you?”

“Lots of things,” Chris replied, glancing at him. “You have on your counselor's voice so I am going to assume that you are in counselor mode, Pastor Palmer.”

Theo frowned. “No…I am more in friend mode. When Brother Gregory asked you about sexual immorality you looked pretty guilty.”

Chris sighed. “I am having some issues. I can't talk about them right now.”

“Does it have anything to do with a woman?” Theo probed gently. “Usually they are the chief culprits when it comes to tying up a man in knots and creating uncertainty and tension.”

Chris glanced at him and nodded. “As a matter of fact, it is a woman. She's beautiful and feisty and I love her deeply…” He paused. “I would do anything for her, you know…”

Theo nodded, pleased for his friend.
At least the unholy fascination with his wife would stop, now that Chris was fixated on someone else
, Theo reasoned.

“So who is she?” Theo asked curiously. As far as he knew none of the church sisters were ever given the time of day by Chris. In fact, when Elder Gregory had suggested Phoebe as a potential candidate for Chris he had found it funny.

Phoebe was Gregory's niece, a beautiful woman who was exceptionally self-centered. She was known to act very desperate when it came to men, to the point of stalking them. The men of the church had made a pact to stay as far away from her as possible.

“I think we should talk about it at another time,” Chris said, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.

Theo nodded thoughtfully.

Chris drove into the hospital's parking lot and released a pent-up sigh. “I am sure that you are nervous about the baby arriving early.”

“Yes, I am.” Theo released his seatbelt and got out of the car hurriedly.  “I am going to mention this conversation with you again. Don’t think that I won't.”

Chris grimaced. “I am sure you will, but for now let’s think about Kelly.”

Theo glanced at him briefly. Chris had said Kelly reverently, almost as though … Theo shook his head. Chris was simply not acting like himself.

Together they headed for the maternity unit. It was Theo's third time there as a father, and he hurried to the front desk with Chris walking closely behind him.

“Kelly Palmer,” he said to the nurse.

“Room 540,” the nurse informed him, looking at the chart. “You are a bit late, she just gave birth. Couple hours more and you would have had an Independence baby.” She glanced at her watch. “You have a bouncing baby boy.”

She glanced curiously at Theo, and then at Chris and then said, “Mommy is doing okay. A little tired as can be expected. You can go in only one at a time.”

Chris was feeling nervous standing there beside Theo. He didn’t want to leave, after all, he suspected that the baby was his. Kelly had been avoiding him like the plague, refusing his calls, opting not to go to church. Her attitude was driving him crazy.

She had effectively cut him out of her life and he wanted to know why. He needed to see this baby that was supposedly premature. He had wanted to quiz Theo about it but held back. He didn’t want Theo to suspect anything. He wanted Kelly to make the decision to choose him of her own free will. He didn’t want to be the one to tell Theo, and quizzing him would really install some doubts in his mind.

“Okay,” Theo said excitedly, holding out his hand to Chris and pumping it energetically. “I will go in first, look at my newest son.”

He looked at Chris. “I am sure you want to offer your congratulations to Kelly, too.”

Chris nodded and then swallowed. “Definitely. Besides, you need a ride home.”

Theo headed down the hallway buoyed by the feeling of gratitude encasing his heart. He was sure that Kelly and the baby were fine, and that’s all that mattered to him. He entered the room and Kelly was sitting up, staring down at the baby whose little rosebud mouth was pursed in the cutest way.

She looked up at Theo when he entered the room and then back down at the baby. He advanced to the bedside and kissed her on her forehead and looked down at the newest arrival. The baby was perfectly formed, very light-skinned, much lighter than him and Kelly, and he had green eyes. The shock of that fact had him staring at the baby for so long that he just didn’t know what to say.

“He has green eyes,” Theo said in awe, looking at the little tyke with its rosebud pink lips.

Kelly nodded with tears in her eyes. “That he does. I am guessing they will change color as he ages.”

He took the baby from Kelly and kissed him softly on the forehead. “Hey, little one. I am your daddy. Welcome to the world.”

Kelly looked away, her eyes stinging.

“So are we still going to call him Mark?” Theo was looking at her with a gentle expression on his face.

“He looks like a Mark, doesn’t he?” Kelly said, leaning back into her pillows.

“Oh, yes.” Theo returned the baby to her, and then sat at the edge of the bed. “We have a Matthew and a Mark.”

“Don’t you dare say we need a Luke and a John,” Kelly smiled.

“I was thinking it.” Theo kissed her again. This time on her lips. “I wish I could spend the night here with both of you.”

Kelly touched his hand tenderly. “They’ll be kicking me out tomorrow.”

“Where's Erica?” Theo asked curiously. “I didn’t see her in the waiting area.”

“She is gone to get some of my stuff. When she came by my water broke. She came right on time.”

Theo brushed her hair back from her forehead and kissed her again. “I was right to call her then. Guess who dropped me here?”

“Who?” Kelly said, touching the baby's fingers.

“Chris,” Theo said, looking into the baby’s eyes. “As a matter of fact he is in the waiting area waiting to see you.”

Kelly tried hard not to stiffen, but her body betrayed her.

Theo looked up from the baby and frowned. “I know you might not want visitors now, but he dropped me and he seemed as if he wanted to see you. Just accommodate him a little. I will come back and kick him to the curb after two minutes, okay?”

“O…okay,” Kelly stammered. Her heart was racing a mile a minute and Mark was picking up on her tension.

“I'll be back soon.” Theo reluctantly dropped a kiss on her head, handed her the baby and headed out.

Kelly looked down at her baby son again, trying to discern if he had any glaring features that were uniquely Chris'. He was extremely light; that could be explained away by genetics. Even Erica was light skinned. His eyes were going to be a problem though. What if they were hazel, like Chris'? She was looking down at her baby and wishing that his eyes would stay green or darken to a nice brown.

“He's beautiful,” Chris said above her head. She didn’t hear him come in and she jumped guiltily.

He sat heavily—like a drunken man—in the chair beside the bed. “Congratulations on a safe delivery.”

“Thank you,” Kelly whispered. He was a green polo shirt, and the green highlights in his eyes made them look almost as green as her son’s. What an unfortunate coincidence she thought, panicking. She wrapped her son tighter in the blanket he was in and tried to shield him from Chris.

Chris got up and started pacing. He glanced at her hands busily covering the baby and then ran his hand through his hair. “Can I hold him?” he asked her savagely.

“No,” Kelly squeaked. “Why do you want to hold my baby? Why did you carry Theo anyway? Are you crazy?”

“If I am crazy you drove me to it,” Chris hissed. The baby started to cry and Kelly rocked him.

“Just let me hold him Kelly,” Chris said almost desperately. “A man deserves to meet his child for the first time without histrionics.”

“He's not yours,” Kelly said panicking, “why did you assume he is yours?”

Chris sighed and knelt by the bedside staring at the red-faced baby, whose arms were flailing and his little belly moving rapidly as he gulped in for air.

“He looks like mine,” he whispered.

“No,” Kelly grunted. “It’s over, Chris. Please, let’s not talk about this again.”

Chris stood up and headed for the door. “It will never be over with him in the world, Kelly. We have to resolve this someway, somehow. I am not going to just stand aside and let another man raise him.”

“Just go,” Kelly said tiredly. “This baby is mine and Theo's. Any fantasy that you may have of it being otherwise is just that—a fantasy.”

Chris stood at the door with his back to her as he debated in his head if he should pursue the topic any further. Then with a vicious pull he opened the door and then looked behind him. Kelly was cooing to the baby. She looked so beautiful to him.

That should be his family, not Theo's
.

He closed the door softly and leaned on it. He felt weak and dejected. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Theo in the corridor heading toward him. Chris pulled himself from the door blindly and went to the restrooms around the corner that he had seen earlier. He shut himself in one of the stalls and cried. Big, choking sobs. He didn’t care who heard. His heart was breaking into pieces.